Headlight dimmer



R. TREJO M ET AL Dc. 18, w23. 11,478,348

HEADLIGHT DIMMER Filed June 24. 1922 Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

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RAFAEL TREJO M AND DEMETRIO PONCE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

Application led .Tune 24, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, RAFAEL TREJO M and DnMirrRro PONCE, both citizens of the Republic of Mexico, and residing at 102 Ward Ave. and 133 Fairview Ave., respectively, in the city of San Antonio, ABexar County, State of Texas, U. S. A., have invented a Headlight Dimmer.

This device is used in headlights of automobiles, street cars, locomotives, or any other vehicle and also in stationary headlights.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a dimming device fo-r headlights and the like, which are now commonly employed on motor vehicles, and its primary object is to produce a means which entirely eliminates the undesired glare which accompanies the present day high candled power lamps.

A further object is to provide a means which not only breaks up the glare from the light but in doing so will adord a maximum amount of soft mellow light sufficient to enable careful driving.

Another object is to produce a substantial and simple means for detachably securing this dimming device to the universally used headlamp without altering its construction.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing our invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts in the several views, and in which In the drawings Figure l is a front view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary view of one of the blade members.

Figure 4f is a perspective view showing the invention applied to a vehicle lamp.

Referring now to the drawings in detail an ordinary vehicle lamp is broadly indicated by the numeral l. This lamp has the usual rim 2 for holding the lens 3 properly secured therein.

The construction embodying the present invention consists of a pair of resilient arms Serial N0. 570,746.

or memberst arranged at right angles to each other and being rigidly secured together intermediate of their ends. These arms have their ends olf set as at 5 at a slight inclination to permit such ends to be positioned between the rims 2 and adjacent to the edges of the lens 3 as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Suitably secured to these resilient arms or members 4f, at the point of intersection of the arms, and extending outwardly therefrom is a shaft 6 provided with a head '7. A sleeve 8 surrounds the shaft and has its inner end in contacting engagement with the adjacent member 4, but its outer end is spaced from the head 7 a suitable distance to provide a bearing for a hub 9 which carries a plurality of radiating blades 10. These blades are arranged at alternating inclinations to each other and in their entirety they provide a wind wheel adapted to be rotated upon a slight current of air comin in contact therewith.

ecured to and around the edges of each blade there is a reinforcing strip 11 the use of which being obvious. It might also be stated that the blades may be formed from colored transparent material and shaped like a clover leaf as shown in the drawings, however, they may be opaque and formed of `any desired shape providing they possess the necessary qualities to rotate as advantageously as the preferred form.

`When the dimming device as above described is positioned in the headlamps of a vehicle the operation thereof is automatic, as currents of air coming in contact with the blades will rotate them in accordance with the amount of air they are subjected to. It is usually necessary for vehicles to reduce their speed when passing each other, consequently if these vehicles have the aforesaid described dimmers in their headlamps, the blades l0 will also reduce their speed of rotation thereby causing a marked dimming of the light, but when the vehicles are running at a higher rate of speed the blades likewise rotate accordingly and allow the ray from the light to penetrate more readily through the space between the blades as will be obviously understood.

lt is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of our invention will be readily apparent.

We desire it to be understood that we may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that suoli Changes fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

What We Claim isz- Y A diininer of the Vcharacter' described comprising a pair of resilient arms rigidly secured intermediate 'of their ends, said ends being offset at a slight inclination and 'being adaipted to be inserted between the lens and lens securing rim of a Vehicle lamp, a shaft *calf ried by the resilient members at their point of intersection and extending outwardly therefrom,` a sleeve Vsurrounding lthe shaft andbeing spaced from its free end, Aa hub rotatably mounted between the end of the sleeve and shaft respective-ly, a plurality of radiating blades secured to the hub andV be- 'infr arranged at different inclinations to pro- 

